My new kicks

Game-used cards are so plentiful now that for a lot of collectors they just don't have that wow factor that they did 10+ years ago.  That said every now and then I run across a set of game-used cards that impress me and the 1999 Skybox EX Century Authen-Kicks is one of those.

I love cards that feature game-used base and hats, but until now I've never had a shoe card...at least not with a large piece of shoe like this.  I particularly like the red leather piece of J.D. Drew.  I don't know what the odds were of pulling these cards in 1999, but I scored both for a song over at COMC some time ago.  Oh yeah, not only are limited but they are hand numbered too!

So what is your favorite kind of game-used / game-worn / relic type of cards?

January 2012 Group Break - 1999 Skybox E-X Century packs 11-18

We're down to the last handful of packs of the last box.  A big thanks to the Baseball Card Exchange for sponsoring the break.  I'm always open to suggestions when it comes to product to open so be sure to browse their selection and let me know your thoughts.

Pack 11:
#071 Jose Cruz Jr. (Blue Jays)
#095 Ryan Minor (Orioles)
#079 Ron Gant (Phillies)


Pack 12:
#049 Rondell White (Expos)
#084 Tony Clark (Tigers)
#073 Tino Martinez (Yankees)


Pack 13:
#060 Javy Lopez (Braves)
#093 Adrian Beltre (Dodgers)
#057 Scott Brosius (Yankees)

Pack 14:

#014 Greg Maddux (Braves)
#076 Cliff Floyd (Marlins)
#022 Darin Erstad (Angels)


Pack 15:
#085 Shannon Stewart (Blue Jays)
#119 A.J. Burnett (Marlins)


#012 Frank Thomas (White Sox)


Pack 16:
#059 Steve Finley (Diamondbacks)
#105 J.D. Drew (Cardinals)
#036 Gary Sheffield (Dodgers)


Pack 17:
#055 Will Clark (Orioles)


#3E-X Pat Burrell - E-X-Quisite (Phillies)
#086 Robin Ventura (Mets)

The E-X-Quisite insert is the only one that we were "guaranteed" to pull (1:18 packs) so congratulations go to the Phillies.

Pack 18:
#020 Travis Lee (Diamondbacks)
#110 Robert Fick (Tigers)
#006 Alex Rodriguez (Mariners)

And there you have it.  January's Affordable Group Break is in the books.  Keep your eyes on the sidebar for info on next month's break.  Follow me on Twitter for info on group breaks as well.  Thanks to all that participated.

January 2012 Group Break - 1999 Skybox E-X Century packs 3-10

Changing up things and switching to 1999 Skybox E-X Century now.  I'm really hoping to find one of the game used shoe/spikes cards.


Pack 3:
#038 Carlos Delgado (Blue Jays)
#052 Rolando Arrojo (Rays)

#034 Barry Larkin (Reds)

Another card of new Hall of Famer Barry Larkin...nice.

Pack 4:

#009 Derek Jeter (Yankees)
#115 Peter Tucci (Padres)
#078 Ken Caminiti (Astros)

Pack 5:
#042 Dante Bichette (Rockies)

#019 Cal Ripken (Orioles)
#054 John Olerud (Mets)

Pack 6:
#065 Shawn Green (Blue Jays)
#098 Carlos Guillen (Mariners)

#004 Tony Gwynn (Padres)

Pack 7:
#026 Larry Walker (Rockies)
#029 Magglio Ordonez (White Sox)

#003 Mike Piazza (Mets)

Pack 8:
#025 Andruw Jones (Braves)
#027 Albert Belle (Orioles)
#039 Rafael Palmeiro (Rangers)

Pack 9:
#037 Bernie Williams (Yankees)

#108 Carlos Beltran (Royals)
#001 Scott Rolen (Phillies)

Pack 10:

#007 Vladimir Guerrero (Expos)
#050 Jeromy Burnitz (Brewers)
#069 Curt Schilling (Phillies)

Not a lot of cards in this box, but I hope the higher quality of the base cards makes up for it.  No parallels or inserts to be found in this round.  Perhaps the next?

January 2012 Group Break - 1999 Skybox E-X Century

And finally this evening we'll rip two packs of 1999 Skybox E-X Century.  I love "non-traditional" material trading cards so this was an easy choice for the break.  That and the chance of pulling a card with game used (shoe) spikes!  Only 3 cards per pack, but several numbered parallels and inserts to chase.

Pack 1:

#032 Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks)
#104 Pat Burrell (Phillies)
#067 Jose Canseco (Rays)

Pack 2:
#041 Brad Fullmer (Expos)

#083 Rickey Henderson (Mets)
#048 Jeff Cirillo (Brewers)

Now these are some cool cards!  My hope is that the player/team selection is varied so everyone gets in on the action. 

That's it for tonight.  I've got a film crew and report from the local CBS affiliate coming over to my house tomorrow to do a spot on my and my toy collection and I've got some last minute things to attend to.  More packs will be ripped and shared here tomorrow.

January 2012 Affordable Group Break - Sign Up Now!

I know it isn't quite 2012 yet, but I wanted to give people a chance to spend some of that Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket!  Once the new year is finally upon us what does that mean for Cardboard Collections?  Another year of Affordable Group Breaks!  We'll start off the year with a few boxes from the good people @ The Baseball Card Exchange.

 1997 Topps Stadium Club Series 2 Jumbo (Hobby)

12 packs per box, 15 cards per pack

Possible RCs: Lance Berkman, Adrian Beltre, Kerry Wood

- Stadium Sluggers SPs (1:2)

- Matrix parallels (1:12)

- Co-Signers dual autos (1:168)

- Instavision (1:22)

- Millenium (1:24)

- Pure Gold (1:72)

 1998 Pinnacle Performers

24 packs per box, 8 cards per pack

- Swing for the Fences 1:2

- Peak Performers 1:7

- Launching Pad 1:9

- Power Trip 1:21 (serially #d)

- Big Bang 1:45 (serially #)

- Big Bang Seasonal Outbust 1:45 (serially #d)

1999 Skybox E-X Century (Hobby)

18 packs per box, 3 cards per pack

Possible RCs: Pat Burrell

- Essentials Now (serially #d)

- Essentials Future (serially #d)

- Prospects 1:2

- E-XQuisite 1:18

- Favorites for Fenway '99 1:36

- Authen-Kicks game-worn shoe (serially #d)

- Milestones of the Century (serially #d)

I'm really looking forward to the box of Skybox E-X.  Those Authen-Kicks game-worn shoe cards are very intriguing!  Hopefully this break will appease everyone as there is a good mixture of regular cards & obtainable inserts plus the chance at a dual auto in the box of TSC.

In an effort to make sure the entire break is filled up we'll be going with the format of choose 1 team and have a 2nd team randomly assigned.  Of course you are welcome to trade teams after all the teams have been assigned.  Just make sure that you let me know so you get the correct cards.  Each slot will be $9 shipped.  After all 15 slots are filled the unclaimed teams will then be randomized and assigned to each participant.

The faster you pay the quicker I can have the boxes ordered and we can start the break.  To claim your team please leave a comment with your requested team(s) and then please submit your gift payment via PayPal to cardboardcollections at yahoo.com.  Due to PayPal cracking down on gift payments PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE SUBJECT LINE OR COMMENT BOX!  Please e-mail me your full mailing address and the team you claimed after payment is sent.

01) Atlanta Braves (Cardboard Collections) (PAID)

02) Scott Crawford (Expos) (PAID)

03) daddyohoho (Phillies) (PAID)

04) NY Hitman 23 (Yankees) (PAID)

05) D a V e (Blue Jays) (PAID)

06) Jason (Indians) (PAID)

07) Josh D. (Royals) (PAID)

08) arpsmith (Giants) (PAID)

09) Spiegel83 (Dodgers) (PAID)

10) Kyle4KC (Mariners) (PAID)

11) daily dimwit (Astros) (PAID)

12) hiflew (Rockies) (PAID)

13) Matt Perry (Red Sox) (PAID)

14) cynicalbuddha (Brewers) (PAID)

15) cardanathema (Cubs) (PAID)